Oakland Raiders History: Jersey Numbers That Should Be Retired-Offense

Since Al Davis took over the Oakland Raiders, there have been some great players that have donned the silver and black.

Raider fans have often shown their allegiance to their favorite players by wearing their number. However, they often find themselves wearing the number of a lesser player with that same number years later.

Why doesn't Davis retire numbers like most sports franchises?

It could be that he likes to say, "Son, I think highly enough of you to give you so-and-so's number, now honor it."

It could also be that by taking the sentimentality out of the number, he's attempting to say that no Raider is any better than any other; we're all one.

It could be nothing more than a numbers-game (no pun intended). If he retired the number of every great Raider, they'd run out of numbers before long.

Whatever the case, there are several numbers that have been honored by the player that wore them later, and some that have failed to live up to the number they were given.

Let's look at just a few of the offensive numbers that should be retired in numerical order...

No. 78-Art Shell

Few offensive tackles can be mentioned in the same breath as Art Shell. There is only one I can think of in this modern era that is worthy, Walter Jones.

Shell, along with Upshaw and Jim Otto anchored the offensive line of the Raiders during their hey-day. Running left was not a problem for Raider backs, and quarterback Ken Stabler never had to worry about pressure coming from the left.

The first African-American head coach of the modern era deserves to have his jersey retired by the Raiders.